frhinkle wrote:
>
> Hi Guido,
> Yes I have collected live E. scalare in Kuwait. Four
> specimens reside in my collection.
> Fred in MN
>
> ----------
> > From: Guido Poppe <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Fultons Cowrie
> > Date: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 8:59 AM
> >
> > Yes,
> >
> > this was in the air for some time. But as Ed told, Amorim
> is not giving
> > away. He is honest, and keeps the price according to the
> quantity/price
> > from what he buys from the fisherman. Offer and demand.
> >
> > Already in Aarschot last year many were offered, but the
> quality was not
> > there. Several people repolished these shells and sold
> them for genuine...
> >
> > Shell people have to keep this price situation in mind
> all the time.
> >
> > Now, this is not dramatic, as the ones paying the 4000 $
> for the fultoni,
> > in general theyalso paid the 50 $ for the perlae and the
> 200 $ for the
> > mariellae, the 200 $ for the kuroharai, the 300 $ for the
> midwayensis, the
> > 20 $ for the rashleighana, the 10 $ for the artuffeli,
> and this list can
> > fill the complete page. Still many bright stars from the
> conchological
> > world can go down in price before the advanced collector
> should start
> > thinking about.
> >
> > In the disussions on this subject: fultoni in the very
> beginning of when it
> > became more common, sold at 4000 medium price. I
> personally do not know a
> > single individual having paid 10000$. The 25000 $ story I
> do not know where
> > this happened.
> >
> > On the other hand, I've seen a written 17th century
> manuscript with, if I
> > remember well, the price in gold guilders 16000 for
> Epitonium scalare.
> > Translated in the gold value from today, this shell has
> been paid around 6
> > 000 000 $ (am I wrong ?) This was, of course, before the
> Bonnard sale. (See
> > Peter Dance for similar funny facts). The old fakes match
> around 20000$
> > when sold in London auction houses. Fakes from the fakes,
> sold as such by
> > Lan about 15 years ago went for 100 $. The real thing is
> underpriced, as
> > still very hard to find. As far as I know only a couple
> of fisherman know
> > where and how to get them in the Philippines.
> >
> > Did somebody on this gopher find himself a living scalare
> ?
> >
> > Best regards, Guido
> >
> > Visit Conchology, with over 50000 names with author, 3800
> indicated type
> > species, 5000 conchological images, and fun with shells.
> >
> > http://www.conchology.uunethost.be/
 
 
Dear Fred:
 
 
Do you mean that the scallare specimens commonly offered today (15 to 50
USA) are reproductions ?, or another species less fine ?
 
How can I iddentifie (or validtae) my specimen ?  It looks the same like
in the guides.
 
 
Regards
 
Jorge Mindez